Switching control circuit with signal process to accommodate the synchronous rectifier of power converters

ABSTRACT

A switching control circuit of a power converter according to the present invention comprises an input circuit and a clock generator. The input circuit is coupled to receive a feedback signal for generating a switching signal. The clock generator generates a clock signal to determine a switching frequency of the switching signal. The feedback signal is correlated to an output of the power converter. The switching signal is coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter for regulating the output of the power converter. The pulse width of the switching signal is reduced before the switching frequency of the switching signal is changed from a low frequency to a high frequency.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/636,962, filed 23 Apr. 2013, currently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Filed of Invention

The present invention relates to a power converter, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a switching control circuit of the power converter.

Description of Related Art

FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a switching power converter. A switching control circuit 70 generates a switching signal S_(W) in accordance with a feedback signal V_(FB). The feedback signal V_(FB) is correlated to an output V_(O) of the power converter. The switching signal S_(W) is coupled to switch a transformer 10 of the power converter through a transistor 20. Thus, the transformer 10 will deliver the power from an input V_(IN) of the power converter to the output V_(O) of the power converter via a transistor 40 and a capacitor 50. The transformer 10 has a primary side and a secondary side. The input V_(IN) is supplied to a primary winding N_(P) at the primary side and the output V_(O) is generated at the secondary side. The secondary side has a secondary winding N_(S). The transistor 40 is coupled between a first terminal of the secondary winding N_(S) and an output terminal of the power converter. The capacitor 50 is coupled to a second terminal of the secondary winding N_(S) and the output terminal of the power converter.

A rectifier 45 is parallel connected to the transistor 40. It can be a separated diode or a parasitic diode of the transistor 40. A SR controller 90 associates with the transistor 40 developed a synchronous rectifier (SR) at the secondary side of the transformer 10. Further, a switching current I_(P) flows through the primary winding N_(P) of the transformer 10 and the transistor 20 when the transistor 20 is turned on. A resistor 30 is coupled between the transistor 20 and a ground to detect the switching current I_(P) of the transformer 10 for generating a current-sense signal V_(CS). The current-sense signal V_(CS) is coupled to the switching control circuit 70.

Many prior arts had disclosed the skill of the synchronous rectifying, such as, “PWM controller for synchronous rectifier of flyback power converter” U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,991; “Synchronous rectification circuit for power converters” U.S. Pat. No. 7,440,298; “Method and apparatus for predicting discharge time of magnetic device for power converter” U.S. Pat. No. 7,511,466; “Offline synchronous rectifier with causal circuit for resonant switching power converter” U.S. Pat. No. 8,023,289; “Offline synchronous rectifier circuit with turned-on arbiter and phase-lock for switching power converters” U.S. Pat. No. 8,154,888.

Many controllers (e.g. the SR controller 90) of synchronous rectifying include the phase lock circuit to detect the switching waveform of the transformer 10 and predict the turn-on time of the SR transistor (such as the transistor 40). The response time of the phase lock circuit is limited, which restricts the maximum operation frequency and speed of the switching control circuit (e.g. the switching control circuit 70).

The present invention provides a signal process in the switching control circuit, which allows the switching control circuit can operate at high frequency without the limitation of the synchronous rectifier.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a switching control circuit with signal process to accommodate the synchronous rectifier of the power converter. The switching control circuit can operate at high frequency without the limitation of the synchronous rectifier.

A switching control circuit of a power converter according to the present invention comprises an input circuit and a clock generator. The input circuit is coupled to receive a feedback signal for generating a switching signal. The clock generator generates a clock signal to determine a switching frequency of the switching signal. The feedback signal is correlated to an output of the power converter. The switching signal is coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter for regulating the output of the power converter. The pulse width of the switching signal is reduced before the switching frequency of the switching signal is changed from a low frequency to a high frequency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANIED DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a switching power converter.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the switching control circuit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the pulse generator in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the clock generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the input circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the micro-stepping circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the micro-stepping circuit according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a switching control circuit in accordance with the present invention. The switching control circuit 100 is also a controller that comprises a switching circuit coupled to receive the feedback signal V_(FB) for generating the switching signal S_(W). The switching circuit includes a logic circuit and an input circuit (INPUT) 300. The logic circuit includes a flip-flop 110, an AND gate 115, a comparator 150, an NOR gate 151, and an NAND gate 152. A clock generator 200 generates a clock signal C_(K) coupled to determine the switching frequency of the switching signal S_(W). The clock signal C_(K) is coupled to a clock input terminal CK of the flip-flop 110. An input terminal D of the flip-flop 110 is coupled to receive an enable signal EN. An output terminal Q of the flip-flop 110 is coupled to a first input terminal of the AND gate 115. A second input terminal of the AND gate 115 is coupled to receive the clock signal C_(K). An output terminal of the AND gate 115 generates the switching signal S_(W). The switching signal S_(W) is coupled to control the transistor 20 to switch the transformer 10 (as shown in FIG. 1) of the power converter for regulating the output V_(O) of the power converter.

The input circuit 300 is coupled to receive the feedback signal V_(FB) and generate a modulated feedback signal V_(B). The modulated feedback signal V_(B) is coupled to disable the flip-flop 110 and the switching signal S_(W) via the comparator 150, the NOR gate 151 and the NAND gate 152. The modulated feedback signal V_(B) is coupled to a positive input terminal of the comparator 150. A ramp signal R_(MP) is produced from the clock generator 200 and/or from the current-sense signal V_(CS). The ramp signal R_(MP) is connected to a negative input terminal of the comparator 150 to disable the switching signal S_(W) once the ramp signal R_(MP) is higher than the modulated feedback signal V_(B). An output terminal of the comparator 150 is coupled to a first input terminal of the NOR gate 151. An output terminal of the NOR gate 151 is coupled to a first input terminal of the NAND gate 152. An output terminal of the NAND gate 152 is coupled to a reset input terminal R of the flip-flop 110 to reset the flip-flop 110 for disabling the switching signal S_(W).

A frequency modulation signal H/L is utilized to program the switching frequency of the switching signal S_(W). The frequency modulation signal H/L is applied to the clock generator 200 to modulate the frequency of the clock signal C_(K) for modulating the switching frequency of the switching signal S_(W), and the clock generator 200 generates an on-time adjust signal S_(J) coupled to the input circuit 300 in response to the frequency modulation signal H/L. The on-time adjust signal S_(J) is utilized to adjust the pulse width (on-time) of the switching signal S_(W). Before the switching frequency of the switching signal S_(W) changes from a low frequency to a high frequency, the pulse width (on-time) of the switching signal S_(W) will be reduced in advance. This on-time adjustment is done before the switching frequency of the switching signal S_(W) is changed, which can achieve a proper operation for the synchronous rectifier (transistor 40) at the secondary winding N_(S) (secondary side) of the transformer 10.

Two protection signals OFF1 and OFF2 are applied to disable the switching signal S_(W) in response to the protection of the power converter. The first protection signal OFF1 (such as the over-voltage protection (OVP)) is applied to a protection circuit to disable the switching signal S_(W) immediately. The first protection signal OFF1 is thus coupled to reduce the pulse width of the switching signal S_(W) before disabling the switching signal S_(W). The protection circuit includes a flip-flop 170. The first protection signal OFF1 is coupled to an input terminal D of the flip-flop 170. The clock signal C_(K) is connected to a clock input terminal CK of the flip-flop 170 to set flip-flop 170 when the first protection signal OFF1 is enabled. An output terminal Q of the flip-flop 170 is coupled to disable the path for the reset of the flip-flop 110 through NOR gate 151, which allows the clock signal C_(K) to turn on (enable) the switching signal S_(W) with a specific pulse width (on-time).

Once the switching signal S_(W) is on state in response to the enable of the first protection signal OFF1, a pulse generator 120 generates a pulse signal BLK coupled to a second input terminal of the NAND gate 152 in response to the switching signal S_(W) to determine this specific pulse width of the switching signal S_(W). Therefore, the pulse width of the switching signal S_(W) is decreased to the specific value before the switching signal S_(W) is disabled for the protection of the power converter. After the pulse signal BLK is generated, the pulse signal BLK will trigger a flip-flop 175 for latching off the enable signal EN. The enable signal EN coupled to the flip-flop 110 is utilized to enable the flip-flop 110 for generating the switching signal S_(W). The pulse signal BLK is coupled to a clock input terminal CK of the flip-flop 175. An input terminal D of the flip-flop 175 is coupled to receive a supply voltage V_(CC). An output terminal/Q of the flip-flop 175 generates the enable signal EN. A reset signal RST is coupled to a reset input terminal R of the flip-flop 175 to reset the flip-flop 175. The pulse signal BLK is further coupled to a reset input terminal R of the flip-flop 170 to reset the flip-flop 170.

The second protection signal OFF2 (such as the over-temperature protection, the open-loop protection, the brownout protection, etc.) is coupled to the input circuit 300 to disable the switching signal S_(W) through a micro-stepping circuit (MS) 350 (as shown in FIG. 5) that decreases the pulse width of the switching signal S_(W) step by step in response to the feedback signal V_(FB).

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the pulse generator 120 according to the present invention. The pulse generator 120 comprises inverters 121, 127, a current source 122, a transistor 123, a capacitor 125, and an NAND gate 129. The switching signal S_(W) is coupled to a gate of the transistor 123 to control the transistor 123 through the inverter 121. One terminal of the current source 122 is coupled to the supply voltage V_(CC). The other terminal of the current source 122 is coupled to a drain of the transistor 123, one terminal of the capacitor 125 and an input terminal of the inverter 127. A source of the transistor 123 and the other terminal of the capacitor 125 are coupled to the ground. The capacitor 125 is charged by the current source 122 when the switching signal S_(W) is on state. An output terminal of the inverter 127 is coupled to a first input terminal of the NAND gate 129. A second input terminal of the NAND gate 129 is coupled to receive the switching signal S_(W). An output terminal of the NAND gate 129 generates the pulse signal BLK. The pulse width of the pulse signal BLK is determined by the level of the current source 122 and capacitance of the capacitor 125. That is, the level of the current source 122 and capacitance of the capacitor 125 determine the specific pulse width of the switching signal S_(W).

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the clock generator 200 according to the present invention. A capacitor 215 and a capacitor 216 are coupled to a signal generator (OSC) 250 to determine the frequency of the clock signal C_(K). A switch 211 coupled between the capacitor 216 and the signal generator 250 is controlled by a signal S_(X) for switching the capacitor 216. When the switch 211 is turned off, the frequency of the clock signal C_(K) will become higher. The signal generator 250 generates a pulse signal PLS. The pulse signal PLS is utilized to generate the clock signal C_(K) via an inverter 270.

The pulse signal PLS is further coupled to clock input terminals CK of flip-flops 230 and 231. The frequency modulation signal H/L coupled to an input terminal D of the flip-flop 230 is applied to enable/disable the flip-flop 230. An output terminal Q of the flip-flop 230 generates the on-time adjust signal S_(J) in response to the pulse signal PLS. The on-time adjust signal S_(J) is further coupled to an input terminal D of the flip-flop 231 to enable/disable the flip-flop 231 for generating the signal S_(X) in response to the pulse signal PLS. The signal S_(X) is generated by an output terminal Q of the flip-flop 231 via an inverter 271. The frequency modulation signal H/L is further connected to reset input terminals R of the flip-flops 230 and 231 to reset the flip-flops 230 and 231. Therefore, the on-time adjust signal S_(J) is generated to reduce the pulse width of the switching signal S_(W) before the signal S_(X) is generated to increase the switching frequency of the switching signal S_(W).

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the input circuit 300 according to the present invention. The input circuit 300 comprises a feedback circuit and the micro-stepping circuit 350. The feedback circuit includes resistors 310, 325, 326, and a level-shift transistor 315 to receive the feedback voltage V_(FB) for generating an attenuated feedback signal V_(A). The resistor 310 is coupled between a gate of the level-shift transistor 315 and the supply voltage V_(CC) and applied to pull high the feedback signal V_(FB). A drain of the level-shift transistor 315 is also coupled to the supply voltage V_(CC). A gate of the level-shift transistor 315 is coupled to receive the feedback signal V_(FB) for generating the attenuated feedback signal V_(A) through the resistors 325 and 326. The attenuated feedback signal V_(A) represents the feedback signal V_(FB). A terminal of the resistor 325 is coupled to a source of the level-shift transistor 315. The resistor 326 is coupled between the other terminal of the resistor 325 and the ground. The attenuated feedback signal V_(A) is generated at a joint of the resistors 325 and 326.

A first terminal of a resistor 327 is coupled to the joint of the resistors 325 and 326. A switch 331 is coupled between a second terminal of the resistor 327 and the ground. The resistor 327 is turned on/off by the switch 331. The switch 331 is controlled by the on-time adjust signal S_(J). When the switch 331 is turned on, the resistor 327 is further parallel connected to the resistor 326 for reducing the level of the attenuated feedback signal V_(A) and decreasing the pulse width of the switching signal S_(W). The second protection signal OFF2 is coupled to turn on/off a switch 332. The switch 332 is coupled between the ground and the joint of the resistors 325 and 326. The switch 332 is utilized to connect the attenuated feedback signal V_(A) to the ground (decrease to zero voltage) for disabling the switching signal S_(W). Therefore, the switch 332 serves as the protection circuit to disable the switching signal S_(W) in response to the second protection signal OFF2.

The micro-stepping circuit 350 slowly changes its output in accordance with its input signal. The micro-stepping circuit 350 generates the modulated feedback signal V_(B) in accordance with the attenuated feedback signal V_(A) for generating the switching signal S_(W). That is, the micro-stepping circuit 350 is coupled to receive the feedback signal V_(FB) for generating the switching signal S_(W). Further, the micro-stepping circuit 350 is coupled to modulate the pulse width of the switching signal S_(W) step by step in response to the feedback signal V_(FB).

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the micro-stepping circuit according to the present invention. A resistive device 351 and a capacitor 352 develop a pass filter with a time delay. A first terminal of the resistive device 351 is coupled to receive the attenuated feedback signal V_(A). The capacitor 352 is coupled between a second terminal of the resistive device 351 and the ground. Therefore, the pass filter generates the modulated feedback signal V_(B) in accordance with the attenuated feedback signal V_(A), and the modulated feedback signal V_(B) has the time delay comparing with the attenuated feedback signal V_(A).

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the micro-stepping circuit according to the present invention. The micro-stepping circuit comprises two current sources 381 and 382, two transistors 371 and 391, a capacitor 385, and a resistor 395. A terminal of the current source 381 is coupled to the supply voltage V_(CC). The other terminal of the current source 381 is coupled to a source of the transistor 371 and one terminal of the capacitor 385. The other terminal of the capacitor 385 is coupled to the ground. The current source 382 is coupled between a drain of the transistor 371 and the ground. A drain of the transistor 391 is coupled to the supply voltage V_(CC). A gate of the transistor 391 is coupled to the capacitor 385. The resistor 395 is coupled between a source of the transistor 391 and the ground.

A gate of the transistor 371 is coupled to receive the attenuated feedback signal V_(A). The source of the transistor 371 is further coupled to the gate of the transistor 391 to generate the modulated feedback signal V_(B) at the joint of the source of the transistor 391 and the resistor 395. The capacitor 385 and the current sources 381, 382 are coupled in between the transistor 371 and the transistor 391 for developing a linear time delay and performing the micro-stepping. The level of the current sources 381, 382 and the capacitance of the capacitor 385 determine the slew rate of the micro-stepping.

Although the present invention and the advantages thereof have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alternations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. That is, the discussion included in this invention is intended to serve as a basic description. It should be understood that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; many alternatives are implicit. The generic nature of the invention may not fully explained and may not explicitly show that how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims. 

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 17. A switching control circuit of a power converter, comprising: an input circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal wherein the feedback signal is correlated to an output of the power converter; and a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal having a frequency to control a switching frequency of a switching signal wherein the switching signal is configured to control switching of a transformer of the power converter for regulating the output of the power converter; and the switching control circuit configured to reduce a pulse width of the switching signal prior to increasing the frequency of the clock signal.
 18. The circuit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pulse width of the switching signal is reduced before the switching signal is disabled.
 19. The circuit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pulse width of the switching signal is decreased to a specific value before the switching signal is disabled for the protection of the power converter.
 20. The circuit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the input circuit is configured to form a modulated feedback signal used to modulate the pulse width of the switching signal in a plurality of steps in response to the feedback signal.
 21. The circuit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the input circuit further comprises a feedback circuit configured to receive the feedback signal and to generate an attenuated feedback signal, and also includes a micro-stepping circuit configured to generate a modulated feedback signal in accordance with the attenuated feedback signal.
 22. The circuit as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a logic circuit configured to generate the switching signal in response to the modulated feedback signal and the clock signal.
 23. The circuit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the power converter is configured to form the switching signal to facilitate operation of a synchronous rectifier at a secondary side of the transformer.
 24. A control circuit of a power converter, comprising: a feedback circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal that is correlated to an output of the power converter; a clock circuit configured form a clock signal at a frequency the control circuit configured to form a switching signal at the frequency of the clock signal, the switching signal configured to switch a transformer of the power converter for regulating the output of the power converter; a micro-stepping circuit configured to form a modulated feedback signal that slowly changes over a time interval and is correlated to the output of the power converter wherein the modulated feedback signal is used to form a pulse width of the switching signal; and the control circuit configured to adjust a value of the modulated feedback signal to cause the pulse width of the switching signal to be decreased before increasing the frequency of the clock signal.
 25. The circuit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the power converter comprises a synchronous rectifier at a secondary side of the transformer.
 26. The circuit as claimed in claim 24, wherein under the condition of the control circuit operating in a protection state, the control circuit configured to reduce a pulse width of the switching signal before the control circuit increases a frequency of the switching signal.
 27. The circuit as claimed in claim 26, wherein the pulse width of the switching signal is decreased to a specific value before the switching signal is disabled for the protection of the power converter.
 28. A controller circuit of a power converter, comprising: a switching circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal that is correlated to an output of the power converter for generating a switching signal, the switching signal configured to switch a transformer of the power converter for regulating the output of the power converter; a protection circuit coupled to disable the switching signal in response to the protection of the power converter; and the switching circuit configured to decrease a pulse width of the switching signal before changing a frequency of a clock signal used to form a switching frequency of the switching signal.
 29. The controller circuit as claimed in claim 172, wherein the power converter comprises a synchronous rectifier at a secondary side of the transformer.
 30. The controller circuit as claimed in claim 28, further comprising: a clock generator configured to form the clock signal to control the switching frequency of the switching signal; wherein the pulse width of the switching signal is reduced before the switching frequency is changed from a low frequency to a high frequency.
 31. The controller circuit as claimed in claim 28, wherein the pulse width of the switching signal is decreased to a specific value before the switching signal is disabled for the protection of the power converter.
 32. The controller circuit as claimed in claim 28, wherein the switching circuit further comprises a micro-stepping circuit coupled to receive the feedback signal for generating the switching signal, the micro-stepping circuit coupled to modulate the pulse width of the switching signal step by step in response to the feedback signal.
 33. The controller circuit as claimed in claim 28, wherein the switching circuit further comprises a micro-stepping circuit configured to receive the feedback signal and form a modulated feedback signal for generating the switching signal, the micro-stepping circuit coupled to modulate the feedback signal substantially linearly to form the modulated feedback signal.
 34. The controller circuit as claimed in claim 28, wherein the switching circuit further comprises an input circuit configured to receive the feedback signal and form a modulated feedback signal for generating the switching signal, input circuit configured reduce a value of the modulated feedback signal in response to receiving a signal to increase the frequency of the clock signal.
 35. The controller circuit as claimed in claim 28, wherein the input circuit is configured reduce the value of the modulated feedback signal just prior to the control circuit increasing the frequency of the clock signal.
 36. The switching control circuit of claim 17 wherein the switching control circuit is configured to reduce the pulse width of the switching signal during a cycle of the switching signal and prior to increasing the frequency of the clock signal. 